Miller G L 2nd Lt Royal Engineers
SECOND LIEUTENANT G. L. MILLER
ROYAL ENGINEERS
GODFREY LYALL MILLER, born at Cawnpore, was the eldest surviving son of Sir John O. Miller, K C.S.I., of the Indian Civil Service, at one time Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces, and Member of the Governor-General’s Council, and of Mary Evelina, daughter of the Right Honble. Sir
Alfred Lyall, C.C.I.E., K.C.B. He entered the School in 1906, became a Cadet Officer of the School O.T.C., and left for the R.M.A., Woolwich, in 1911, passing in 12th.
In December, 1912, he passed 1st out of Woolwich and entered the Royal Engineers. At Woolwich he gained the King’s and Pollock Gold Medals, besides other prizes, and later, at Chatham, a Haynes Memorial Medal for Field Engineering.
At the outbreak of War, August 4th, 1914, he was appointed to the 11th Field Co. R.E., forming part of the 2nd Division.
He was killed on September 14th, 1914, at Pont Arcy, on the Aisne, 14 miles east of Soissons. Age 21. On this day he was in charge of a damaged bridge over a canal, in rear of the pontoon bridge at Pont Arcy. The 2nd Division had crossed the canal and river bridges on the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th. In the afternoon of the latter day an ammunition train returning from the north of the river attracted the German fire to the bridge, where Lieut. Miller and one Sapper were killed, and ten others severely wounded, some of them succumbing later. His Commanding Officer wrote:-
“He was held in high esteem by the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Company, and we all liked him. From the moment he joined me on mobilisation at Aldershot, he showed signs that he would make a good Officer, and the more I knew him the better I liked and put confidence in him. I now miss him very much, and am extremely grieved that such a promising young life has been cut short.”
Several men of his Company spoke warmly of his thoughtfulness and kindness, and their regret at losing “a fine and brave Officer, and a thorough gentleman,”
Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1
MILLER, GODFREY LYALL, 2nd Lieut., Royal Engineers, elder s. of Sir John Ontario Miller, of Rowley Lodge, Arkley, Herts, K.C.S.I., late Indian Civil Service, by his wife, Mary Evelina, dau. of the late Sir Alfred Lyall; b. Cawnpore, India, 14 Feb. 1893; educ. Warden House School, Deal, Rugby, and Woolwich, where he gained the King’s Gold Medal; was gazetted 2nd Lieut., R.E., 20 Dec. 1912; visited Germany twice during leave to study the language was appointed on mobilisation to the 11th Field Coy. R.E. attd. to the 2nd Division, with which he left for France on 15 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action while in charge of a bridge over a canal at Pont Arcy, 14 Sept. 1914, during the crossing of the Aisne: unm. Buried where he fell.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1